CITY JOINS NATIONWIDE PWD CELEBRATION

DAGUPAN CITY – At least 1,286 persons with disabilities here were issued their respective identification cards when the city joined the whole nation in celebrating International Day for Persons with Disabilities last week.

Josephine S. De Vera, Social Welfare Assistant and Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office Coordinator, announced that through the efforts of Mayor Belen T. Fernandez, several PWDs were given support gadgets so that they can move with ease like normal persons.

At least 13 PWDs were given prosthesis for them to be able to walk normally and gain confidence in themselves; five were recipients of orthopedic shoes; 20 received personalized wheelchairs courtesy of the Latter Day Saints (LDS) while another 31 also received wheelchairs donated by Dr. Ashok Vasandani; five were given crutches and 19 were given folding canes.

PWDs were also enrolled in a livelihood skills training program in operating a sari-sari store, carpentry and basic computer skills to help them become self-employed.

“We are truly grateful to Mayor Fernandez because for the first time we received much attention from the city especially with respect to our rights and privileges,” said De Vera, president of the Katipunan ng Maykapansanan sa Pilipinas, Inc. in Dagupan.

De Vera added that with all the programs and assistance given by the city, PWDs need not confined themselves anymore in the four corners of their homes out of fear and shame.

“By joining the different skills training programs of the city, our PWDs have become productive and more active members of our society,” said De Vera. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/Dec. 23, 2015)